Nechirvan Barzani Reaffirms Iraq and Kurdistan Region Still Need Coalition Support Against Terrorism

Peregraf- Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated on Tuesday that both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region continue to need the cooperation and support of the international coalition to confront the ongoing threats of terrorism.

The Kurdistan Region Presidency said Barzani made the remarks during a meeting in Erbil with Iraqi Army Chief of Staff First Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah and an accompanying delegation of senior military and security officials.

The meeting, attended by the Peshmerga Chief of Staff and officials from the Ministry of Peshmerga, focused on cooperation between the Iraqi Army and Peshmerga forces with the international coalition, as well as broader military and security relations between Iraq and the United States under their bilateral security agreement.

Both sides agreed that the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) remains a genuine threat to security and stability in Iraq and Syria. In this context, President Barzani emphasized that the continued cooperation of the international coalition is vital within the framework of Iraq’s security agreements.

Barzani praised the Iraqi Army’s role in establishing security and stability across the country and described strengthening joint coordination between the Peshmerga and the army as essential for Iraq’s defense strategy.

For his part, General Yarallah said coordination between the Iraqi Army and Peshmerga forces is currently "in its best state," commending the role of the Peshmerga Chief of Staff in enhancing that cooperation.

The two sides also discussed border security, particularly along the Iraq-Syria frontier, and the situation at border crossings. They touched on the planned conclusion of the international coalition’s mission in Iraq by September 2026 and the security arrangements that will follow.

The meeting came amid shifting dynamics in U.S. military engagement in Iraq. Earlier this month, the Pentagon announced it would scale back its mission, with most U.S. troops expected to be relocated to Erbil as Washington transitions its counter-ISIS operations.

According to Reuters, a U.S. official said Baghdad will take greater responsibility for combating ISIS remnants, while U.S. and coalition forces will focus on threats emanating from Syria — with Erbil serving as the main operational hub.

At the start of 2025, about 2,500 U.S. troops were stationed in Iraq and over 900 in Syria. Under the new plan, fewer than 2,000 will remain in Iraq, most of them based in Erbil. Officials have not set a specific timeline for the full transition.

U.S. forces in Baghdad are expected to shift from counter-ISIS operations to broader security cooperation with Iraqi authorities. "ISIS is no longer posing a sustained threat to the government of Iraq or to the U.S. homeland from Iraqi territory," a senior defense official said, calling the shift a "major achievement" that enables Iraq to take the lead on its own security.

The repositioning underscores Erbil’s growing importance as a strategic hub for U.S. and coalition operations and reflects Baghdad’s efforts to minimize tensions with Iran-backed armed groups that frequently target foreign forces.